Doctor insights on:
Are Natural Remedies For Collapsed Lung Safe

1

Need to know cause:
Briefly collapse lung can occur if bronchial tubes are blocked and the lung collapses since no air can get in. If the bronchial tube obstruction is simply mucous then it can loosen with hydration and cough. If it is solid a piece of food or tumor then it will not come out. Lung collapse can occur if there is fluid or air between the lung and chest wall. A chest xray/chest ct is a good start.
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Deoxygenated blood enters the lungs from the right side of the heart and travels to the lungs. When you inspire, oxygen flows into the lungs, transverses the capilliares and attaches to hemoglobin down a gradient. At the same time, co2 diffuses into the capilaries and is expelled with exhalation. Oxygen rich blood then flows to the left side of the heart and into the circulation for cellular use.
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2

Could be:
Are you having trouble breathing, if so you may have a recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax. Visit your nearest emergency room and enroll in programs to help you quit smoking. As long your you smoke, you will always be at risk for spontaneous pneumothoraces.
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4

Great Question:
And I have a better answer: unlike the american bison, most mammals have two separate pleural or lung cavities. If one lung collapses, the problem does not usually affect the other side. This is why bison were easy to hunt. If you hit one side of the chest, both lungs could collapse. The picture shows human anatomy, wish I could also post a bison picture as they are majestic creatures.
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6

Open lungs up:
Atelectasis of lung means there is no air iin a portion of lung. This occurs if a branch of the bronchi leading to that part of the lung is blocked by mucous/phlegm or even a foreign body (like an aspirated piece of food for example). Often use of cough, bronchodilators can open bronchi up and clear phlegm or a bronchoscope can be used to suction it out.
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8

Collapsed lung:
Flying after a collapse lung is safe depending on the following: 1. You must usually wait at least 6 weeks 2. It depends on whether you are flying commercial or general aviation. If the later, it depends on how high you plan to fly. 3. It depends on how the lung collapse was treated and how effective the treatment was. 4. It depends on whether you have underlying lung disease.
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9

Not usual:
Alcohol does not generally have direct impact on pneumothorax per se. However, over all care may be impacted. If your pneumothorax is being treated, you may be on medications that should not mix with alcohol. If your pneumothorax is being observed for worsening or recurrence, you should not drink as may mask your symptoms. Discuss with your thoracic surgeon your case specifics.
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Not really:
It is important to determine the cause of that density. It may be necessary to have a CT to be certain nothing is in the lungs that may need treatment. Talk to your doctor to see what your next step may be.
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12

Yes:
If the pneumothorax creates enough pressure, it can compress the right side of the heart. This decreases the blood return to the heart. Without adequate blood return, your heart does not have enough blood to pump out to your body. This can be rapidly fatal.
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13

Technically maybe:
Up to 10+% of spontaneous pneumothoraces may be completely without symptoms. It is believed many patients with mild or no symptoms may remain at home and not seek medical assistance. Patients with small, asymptomatic pneumothorax, may be sent home after short evaluation and repeat x-ray in er and no other interventions.
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14

Yes:
A collapsed lung is an emergency and can be life threatening. It should be addressed immediately in the emergency room. If you suspect a collapsed lung call 911. Sometimes small "collapses" of the lung can be minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic.
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18

Grades of the same:
Atelectasis (from the latin for imperfect extension) can refer to collapse of a small portion of the lung (called a segment or subsegment) or to collapse of an entire lung. It can be due to obstruction of an airway. Depending on the level of the airway (whether a main bronchus or a smaller bronchiole) depends on the amount of lung that collapses.
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19

Investigate:
Best not to leave lung collapsed if possible. Need bronchoscope and possibly Ct or MRI to evaluate cause of collapse and decide on solution. May be simple as allowing air outside lung to be absorbed and reexpand lung by breathing exercise or may need drainage by catheter or even scope surgery to get lung re-expanded.
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21

Don't hurry:
We don't know the cause of your pneumothorax. There was a hole or a tear in the lung itself causing air to come out into the thoracic cavity, increases the pressure there and push and collapse the lung like a balloon. That area is healing and you don't want to put strain or stress on it for some time to avoid recurrence. Same thing if from blebs or bullae. So take it easy firs. T.
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22

The chest cavity is:
A closed space. Taking a breath changes the internal pressure to negative, and air isdrawn in through the trachea. If the chest wall is breeched, air is drawn in through the hole, or if the lung has weak point, the pressure equilibrium is lost, and the lung deflates, like a tire with a hole in it, and collapses. It can also occur if the trachea or bronchus is blocked.
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24

Confusing question:
The lung of a fetus does not collapse before birth, it may not develop or be pushed out of position by intestines that invade the lung cavity. If the lung didn't develop on one or both sides, death soon after delivery is possible. If intestines are pushing normal lung to the side, surgery can pull it back & see if it will work. Collapse of normal lung after birth can be re-inflated without surgery.
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27

Some overlap:
Rupture requires trauma from iatrogenic or penetrating or blunt and may have bleeding- hemothorax as well as pneumothorax-air in he cavity. Spontaneous pneumothorax-collapse has a limited rupture- tear, bleb pop, etc and can have some bleeding.
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28

Only small ones.:
Collapsed lungs ("pneumothorax") are very common after trauma and make occur spontaneously, often due to small blebs on the lung. In the era of ct scans, we find many, many pneumothoraces that would have been way too small to be seen on traditional chest x-ray. If it is small (~15-20%) and not associated with shortness of breath, a repeat x-ray will show resolution w/o rx most of the time.
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